IBS/Irritable Bowels

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of the intestines
that leads to crampy pain, gassiness, bloating and changes in bowel
habits.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is usually a long-term disorder of the intestines which may cause:

cramping

belly pain

bloating

diarrhea

constipation

mucus in the stools

a feeling that you have not completely emptied your bowels

IBS does not worsen over time, nor does it cause more serious
diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease or cancer. However, the
severity of your symptoms may be better or worse from day to day.
Fortunately there are things you can do to reduce your symptoms.

Causes

Many doctors believe IBS is caused by mixed signals between the
brain and the intestines. This causes problems with the way the muscles
of the intestines move. Though no one is entirely certain whether this
is the cause of IBS or not, what is understood is that the movement of
the digestive tract does not work as it should.

For some people with IBS, stress, certain foods, antibiotics or hormonal changes can trigger symptoms.